The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-20
NOTES OF RECENT TRAVEL.
Neveltie. from Africa and Greenland.

1t is just thirty years since Livingstone
first told English readers of the famous rebel
chief Bonga who for over four decades has de-
fled the Portuguese in his stronghold on the
| Zambesi The story that Livingstone began
and others continued. has been brought down
| to the present time by Mr.. Durand who, during
his recent travels on the Iambesi. visited the
homo of this redoubtable African.
On any good map of Africn the name OF
Bonga is found, indicating his chief settlement
on the Zambesi. There for over forty years he
has held his ground within twenty-five miles
stone journeyei down the. Zambesi he looked
lage and It seemed to him that it was enclosed
pasaiS Of gTowhnE Timber hit he
strong to be conquered by tho cannon with
which the Portuguese tried to takeit
petty Office under the Forugueso One day he
to 81 Mhere
died. This incident was the cause Of tho long
ieud that has nude B2ngs a thorn In the flesh
rallied to his, support a body of malcontents
and escaped slaves. and has ever since main
Claimed by his With, eHe Tortusai has
sent three expeditions, against him. and in tho
a BT y1 r
the strong wall of timbers that surround the
big town. BY that time the Portuguese had
siege. for. while they wore all intcnt upon cap
turing the stronghold of their enemy. he So
took Tcte BY Surprise en,irely destroyed the
settlement. and the Portuguese had work
enough to DO in recstablishing themselves on
The Portuguese have not since attempted to
subjueate Bonga. whose power, however. Mr..
villages far south of the Zambesi having re-
Gently fallen into the hands Of the Portuguese.
stronghold. He says the village is surrounded
by large timbers planted three deep, securely
tn est wide wall rom
Is still adorned with tho heads Of the unfor
tunate Portuguese who were killsd In the last
large buildings. hundreds of native huts. and
many storchouses and ammunition magazines.
2 The large party OF Belgians who are exam
ming the cataract region OF the lower Congo to
find the best route for a railroad are sending
home some novel information about this ILL
reputcd district. One of.them says this region
does not deserve the abuse travellers have
heaped upon IT, and it retains its reputation
by beease ali vsors follow Ha the r unnvi sin
o the u" .he 0n ss uPa5d
country which they describe as inviting. and
ture. They account for the lack OF population
slaves were tho s only H commodty required by
the civilized nations from the Congo.
They say that Legitimate trade Is increasing
on the lower Congo because tho Introduction
OF objects OF modern commerce has created
new needs among the natives. Flannel jack
cts: cotton trousers. CHEAP shawls. and other
articles OF clothing are coming into general
use, The whites arc also introducing among
these lower Congo natives the use OF leather
sandals, ana they are becoming popular arti-
It is thus demonstrated that the savages of
n "a lan n q IN int pf fha
showing also THAT he is willing to work for them.
It was With great S dcnty Sat he obtansa
the services of fifty natives. The Belgian en-
trucks on which they a are transportinR their
steamboat around the cataracts and one OF
these Europeans writes that three towns in the
are glad to work In order to obtain manufac-
tured articles.
At some Of the stations on the Congo they
have recently discovered new method OF gain
ing the g assent S 81 unwilling chiefs to the de-
IS To Wills very serous a nr'e to 70 eap
Ths prospect Of aF the
ces they want scares them into making almost
any concession.
In February last, Lieut.. Bloch and Lieut.. Ry-
der OF the Danish navy made an interesting Jour-
ney along the west coast OF Greenland. Their
ambitious purpose was, II possible. to travel
north until they reached the Cape York natives.
the most northern inhabitants OF tho world. II
they had succeeded, their journey would have
dertakngs for they would have been able to
trace The coast line of the great Melville Bay
which IL almost wholly unknown. as the shore
ice ut most points prevents vessels from mp
preaching anywhere near the coast. With
eight sledges they advanced about seventy
miles north of Upernavik. almost to the south
ern shores of Melville Bay. and past the soil
tary rock known as tho DEVILS Thumb which.
n Q hnan Iin raI in n
and severe weather prevented them from going
further. and it Is now quite certain that tho
the winter season. The result OF this journey
lusiiies the criticism that met the project of /,
Washington Official, who eravely suggested